Grace changes everything 9AM, 10:45AM, & 5:15PM OCTOBER 7, 2018 We exist to glorify and enjoy God by making disciples who make a difference through grace-filled worship, community, and missions. MCLEANPRES.ORG 1020 BALLS HILL RD MCLEAN, VA 22101
Welcome We are so glad you are here! A NOTE FROM OUR SENIOR PASTOR We re all at different stages in our relationship with God. He may be the priority of your life, it may have been a while since you connected with him, or you may be exploring these things for the first time. At McLean Presbyterian, we celebrate God s grace: Jesus came to give us life today and for eternity. This offer is made to us all; whatever your background, we re delighted you re here! We d love to connect with you this evening. Fill out the Hello! card located in the pew rack and place it in the offering plate in the back, then head on up to the front of the Sanctuary to say hello to our pastors. We d love to meet you and chat about how our church can become your home. May this evening be good for your soul! In his grace, JAMES FORSYTH, SENIOR PASTOR P.S. You re invited to join our pastors for lunch at one of our homes. Come get to know our families and other newcomers. Details and dates are at mcleanpres.org/lunch. BUILDING MAP (UPPER FLOOR) FOR YOUR FAMILY While you worship, your children will be loved and taught in an engaging environment. Classrooms are located on the lower floor; the nursing mothers room is on the left as you exit the Sanctuary. Visit the Family Welcome Desk downstairs or mcleanpres.org for schedules and details. Nursery is offered for ages 0 - Pre-K at all service times. Sunday School is available for K - 6 at 9AM, K - 12 at 10:45AM, and K - 3 during the sermon at 5:15PM. Sunday nights: Sunday nights include communities for 4th - 12th grade at 5PM. Find full details and schedules at mcleanpres. org/kidsandstudents. Fellowship Hall Sanctuary Welcome Center Children & Student ministries downstairs; adult education at Cooper MS
Service of Divine Worship October 7, 2018 5:15PM Sanctuary We rest our hearts in God s presence as we prepare for worship PRELUDE COME, THOU FOUNT OF EVERY BLESSING We celebrate God s presence with us and ask for his Spirit to work powerfully among us WELCOME & INVOCATION God invites us to worship him in spirit and in truth CALL TO WORSHIP PSALM 100 Leader: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! People: Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Leader: Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! People: For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. 1
We sing praises to God for who he is and for what he has done SONGS OF PRAISE COME, THOU FOUNT OF EVERY BLESSING Come, thou fount of ev ry blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace; Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise; Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above; Praise the mount! I m fixed upon it, mount of God s unchanging love. Here I raise my Ebenezer; hither by thy help I m come; And I hope, by thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home. Jesus sought me when a stranger, wand ring from the fold of God; He, to rescue me from danger, interposed his precious blood. O to grace how great a debtor daily I m constrained to be; Let that grace, now, like a fetter, bind my wand ring heart to thee; Prone to wander Lord, I feel it prone to leave the God I love; Here s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above. Words by R. Robinson, 1758; Music by A. Nettleton, 1825; CCLI License #152421 WHAT A BEAUTIFUL NAME You were the Word at the beginning, one with God, the Lord most high. Your hidden glory in creation now revealed in you, our Christ. Chorus 1: What a beautiful name it is, what a beautiful name it is, The name of Jesus Christ, my King. What a beautiful name it is, nothing compares to this. What a beautiful name it is, the name of Jesus. You didn t want heaven without us, so, Jesus, you brought heaven down. My sin was great, your love was greater. What could separate us now? Chorus 2: What a wonderful name it is, what a wonderful name it is, The name of Jesus Christ, my King. What a wonderful name it is, nothing compares to this. What a wonderful name it is, the name of Jesus. What a wonderful name it is, the name of Jesus. Bridge: Death could not hold you. The veil tore before you. You silence the boast of sin and grave. The heavens are roaring the praise of your glory, for you are raised to life again. You have no rival. You have no equal. Now and forever, God, you reign. Yours is the kingdom. Yours is the glory. Yours is the Name above all names. 2
Chorus 3: What a powerful name it is, what a powerful name it is, The name of Jesus Christ, my King. What a powerful name it is, nothing can stand against. What a powerful name it is, the name of Jesus. You have no rival. You have no equal. Now and forever, God, you reign. Yours is the kingdom. Yours is the glory. Yours is the Name above all names. Chorus 3 What a powerful name it is, the name of Jesus. What a powerful name it is, the name of Jesus. CCLI Song # 7068424; Words and Music by B. Fielding & B. Ligertwood; 2016 Hillsong Music Publishing; CCLI #152421 We acknowledge our need of forgiveness and renewal through the cleansing blood of Jesus CONFESSION OF SIN Good and gracious Father, we confess that we have heard your voice, and yet we have been slow to follow. In our rebellion, we have wandered away from your pasture. In our folly, we have listened to other voices in the pursuit of the abundant life. Forgive us for trying to do life apart from you. Remind us that Jesus is our good shepherd. By your grace, forgive our sins and give us ears to hear and hearts to obey. By your Spirit, lead us in the good works you have prepared in advance for us to do. We pray this in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen. God reminds us of his promise of forgiveness in Christ ASSURANCE OF PARDON 1 JOHN 2:1-2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation* for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. *Propitiation: a sacrifice that satisfies God s wrath against our sin 3
We enjoy and extend the peace of the gospel to one another GIVING OF THE PEACE Leader: Because Christ is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, we now have peace with God and peace with one another. May the peace of Christ be with you! People: And also with you! We give thanks to God and bring our needs to him CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER You can join us in praying for our community and world this evening; the Flock Notes are on page 9 in your worship guide. If you would like to submit a prayer request, fill out the prayer request card and place it in the offering plate as you exit the Sanctuary. Please also fill out the Keeping Connected pad and pass it down your row and back. If you would like someone to pray with you after the service, men and women from our leadership will be available in the front. During the following song, children ages K - 3rd grade are dismissed to Sunday School, which meets in the McLean Room; turn right as you exit the Sanctuary and walk down the hall. We ready our hearts to receive the preaching of God s word SONG OF PREPARATION HOLY SPIRIT, LIVING BREATH OF GOD Holy Spirit, living Breath of God, breathe new life into my willing soul; Bring the presence of the Risen Lord to renew my heart and make me whole. Cause your Word to come alive in me; give me faith for what I cannot see. Give me passion for your purity; Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me. Holy Spirit, come abide within; may your joy be seen in all I do. Love enough to cover ev ry sin in each thought and deed and attitude. Kindness to the greatest and the least; gentleness that sows the path of peace. Turn my striving into works of grace; Breath of God, show Christ in all I do. Holy Spirit, from creation s birth, giving life to all that God has made. Show your power once again on earth, cause your church to hunger for your ways. Let the fragrance of our prayers arise; lead us on the road of sacrifice, That in unity the face of Christ will be clear for all the world to see. Let the fragrance of our prayers arise; lead us on the road of sacrifice, That in unity the face of Christ will be clear for all the world to see. CCLI Song #4779872; Words & Music by K. Getty & S. Townend; 2006 Thankyou Music; Admin. by EMICMGPublishing.com; CCLI License #152421 4
God speaks to us through the reading of his word SCRIPTURE READING JOHN 19:38-20:10 (PEW BIBLE P. 906) Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God! God speaks to us through the preaching of his word SERMON SENSING JESUS 5. Smelling Jesus God gives us a visible sign to confirm his covenant promise in Christ THE LORD S SUPPER During the sacrament of the Lord s Supper, true believers who repent of their sins and desire to live as followers of Christ, who revealed himself to be fully God and man in one person, are invited to partake. Children who have not been received by the Session into communing membership after a public confession of faith should refrain even though they may have personally received the Savior, because of the responsibility of the recipient to discern the Lord s body (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). WESTMINSTER LARGER CATECHISM QUESTION 172 Question: May one who doubts of his being in Christ, or of his due preparation, come to the Lord s Supper? Answer: One who doubts of his being in Christ, or of his due preparation to the sacrament of the Lord s Supper, may have true interest in Christ, though he be not yet assured thereof; and in God s account has it, if he be duly affected with the apprehension of the want of it, and unfeignedly desires to be found in Christ, and to depart from iniquity: in which case (because promises are made, and this sacrament is appointed, for the relief even of weak and doubting Christians) he is to bewail his unbelief, and labor to have his doubts resolved; and, so doing, he may and ought to come to the Lord s Supper, that he may be further strengthened. 5
PRAYER OF FAITH FOR THOSE PARTAKING OF THE SACRAMENT Gracious Lord, I do not presume to come to this your Table trusting in my own righteousness, but in your manifold and great mercies. In my own righteousness I am not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your Table. But, by your grace, grant that I may draw near to you by faith; eat and drink in remembrance that you died for me. And grant that I may feed on you in my inner being by faith with great thanksgiving. Lord, please open the eyes of my heart that I may know the hope of your calling, the riches of the glory of my inheritance and the surpassing greatness of your power toward me in Jesus Christ. Amen. Those who do not have a personal saving relationship with Jesus Christ are asked to refrain from partaking and are urged to use this time to meditate on one of the following prayers: PRAYER FOR THOSE SEARCHING FOR TRUTH Lord Jesus, you claim to be the way, the truth, and the life. Grant that I might be undaunted by the cost of following you as I consider the reasons for doing so. If what you claim is true, please guide me, teach me, and open to me the reality of who you are. Give me an understanding of you that is coherent, convincing, and that leads to the life that you promise. Amen. PRAYER OF BELIEF Lord Jesus, I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever before believed, but through you I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. I thank you for paying my debt, bearing my punishment on the cross, and offering forgiveness and new life. Knowing that you have been raised from the dead, I turn from my sins and receive you as Savior and Lord. Amen. PRAYER FOR CHILDREN OBSERVING COMMUNION Lord Jesus, I do not understand everything about this communion service. But I know that it is good. Jesus, when I feel hungry for the bread, please help me to hunger for you instead. When I wish I could taste the sweetness of the juice, please help me instead to think of the sweetness of your love. Lord Jesus, thank you that your broken body and your blood paid for my sin. I love you Lord. Amen. *Communion bread is gluten-free. 6 As recipients of God s grace, we give to help those in need PRAYER FOR THE DEACONS OFFERING As we ve received a tangible expression of God s love and kindness for us, we offer a tangible expression of care and concern for those in need within our flock and community. Please designate your gift by writing Deacons Offering on your check or envelope.
We respond to God s word through song SONG OF SENDING COME BEHOLD THE WONDROUS MYSTERY Come behold the wondrous myst ry in the dawning of the King. He the theme of heaven s praises, robed in frail humanity. In our longing in our darkness, now the light of life has come. Look to Christ who condescended, took on flesh to ransom us. Come behold the wondrous myst ry: he the perfect Son of Man. In his living, in his suff ring, never trace nor stain of sin. See the true and better Adam come to save the hell-bound man; Christ the great and sure fulfillment of the law in him we stand. Come behold the wondrous myst ry: Christ the Lord upon the tree. In the stead of ruined sinners hangs the Lamb in victory. See the price of our redemption, see the Father s plan unfold, Bringing many sons to glory, grace unmeasured, love untold. Come behold the wondrous myst ry, slain by death the God of life. But no grave could e er restrain him. Praise the Lord! He is alive! What a foretaste of deliv rance, how unwavering our hope. Christ in power resurrected as we will be when he comes. CCLI Song # 7026028; Words & Music; M. Boswell, M. Papa M. Bleecker 2012 Bleecker Publishing; McKinney Music, Inc.; Love Your Enemies Publishing; CCLI License # 152421 God sends us out with his blessing BENEDICTION 2 CORINTHIANS 13:14 Leader: May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. People: Amen. Thanks be to God! Alleluia! As recipients of his grace, we give back to God a portion of what is already his GIVING OF OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS We want to be a generous community. In response to the grace we ve received, we seek to give cheerfully, diligently, proportionately, and sacrificially (2 Cor 8:1-15). Many of our people give online (mcleanpres.org); you can also place your gift in the offering plate as you exit the Sanctuary. 7